Prosecutors from Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) Human Trafficking Crime Bureau have requested arrest warrants for three Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) leaders, Saw Chit Thu, Saw Mote Thone and Saw Tin Win.
The three are accused of human trafficking into cyber scam centers in BGF-controlled areas of Myawaddy Township, Karen State, located along the Myanmar-Thai border opposite Mae Sot, Tak Province of Thailand.
Thai prosecutors have advised the DSI to gather additional evidence. Media in Bangkok reported that the DSI received evidence from an Indian national who was rescued after being trafficked and forced to work at a cyber scam center in Myawaddy.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stated on Wednesday that BGF leader Saw Chit Thu would be arrested if he entered Thailand. DVB interviewed Saw Chit Thu to get his response to these accusations.
DVB: Saw Chit Thu, how do you respond to Thailand’s request for arrest warrants for you and the two other BGF leaders?
SCT: Is there anything I’ve done wrong to Thai people or Thailand? Regarding the businesses in Myanmar’s Myawaddy Township—such as cyber scam operations and human trafficking—we didn’t bring anyone in. The people who came here didn’t just fall from the sky; they were mainly individuals who traveled through Thailand.
Thai authorities see me as guilty. What I want to say to those officials in Thailand to know is that I’ve been at the Thailand-Myanmar border for over 30 years. I’ve helped Thailand many times before. If they want to arrest me, I want to know under which laws they intend to do so.
DVB: Reports state that you are connected to human trafficking into cyber scam centers [and forced labour inside them]. Are you?
SCT: We have received numerous letters from countries like India, the Philippines, Japan, and others, reporting their citizens who have been trafficked, and we have returned them. I have full documentation. We didn’t formally return them across the [Thai-Myanmar Friendship border] bridge, but we did hand them over to the relevant embassies.
I have a letter of gratitude from India. We’ve sent back Chinese citizens, too. Many embassies informed us of the safe return of their citizens. We handed some to the Thai military. Even today, we’re in the process of returning 60 more people. We are soon forming a special task force to crackdown on human trafficking and scam centers.
We will make sure not one person remains. These people have tarnished the name of our country while engaging in unethical business practices, and we have borne the brunt of their actions. We only provided land for rent, yet our name has been stained. They are not even our citizens.
DVB: Are Thai citizens among those people you are going to send home [from cyber scam centers]?
SCT: Today, it’s mostly Indonesians.
DVB: If Thailand’s DSI proceeds with its plan to issue an arrest warrant for you, what will you do?
SCT: If human trafficking is truly connected to us, then let’s address it. But what I want to ask is: Who is bringing those people here? For the people who have arrived in Shwe Kokko, Myawaddy—who sent them here? And where did they come from? That is the question I want to ask.
DVB: According to the information that we’ve received, it seems that the Thai government is coordinating with Myanmar to carry out arrests. Are you worried about this?
SCT: If they plan to issue arrest warrants in cooperation with Thailand, then the [regime in Naypyidaw] and the BGF will have an official problem. If [the military] no longer recognizes us as the BGF and decides to disband us, we will stand independently on our own.
DVB: So, how will you address the scam centers operating within BGF-controlled territory in Myawaddy?
SCT: Since November, we have warned them to return to where they came from. We are in the process of making good on this warning. Many media outlets have contacted me, but I have not spoken to them yet because I want to prove myself with action and not only words.
DVB: Can we understand from your statements that you are working to eradicate scam centers in BGF-controlled territories, including Shwe Kokko?
SCT: Yes, that’s correct. It must be eradicated. We are monitoring this closely. In the coming days, I will be organizing teams to tackle these issues. We have already notified the military commanders and made arrangements. We will arrest thousands and send them back via the [Thai-Myanmar Friendship border] bridge officially.
DVB: Do you have anything else you would like to add?
SCTr: I have lived along the Thai-Myanmar border for over 30 years and helped Thailand many times. I want to know why they are accusing me and under which laws they plan to arrest me. I also want to know who is sending these people into Myawaddy and how they are entering.
We have official permission to run development projects in the Shwe Kokko area from the previous government, but we are still being blamed for illegal activities. I will prove through my actions, not just words. I ask you to watch closely over the next few days.
DVB: Thank you for your time.
